Telescopically-collapsible box.



A. L. STEINER. TELESUOPIUALLY COLLAPSIBLE BOX. APPLICATION FILED JULYS, 1912 1,1 19,4;67, Patented Dec .1,1914.

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ARTHUR II. STEINER, 0F VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. ASSIGNOB, (F30 HERMAN 111018011, 033 NEW YORK, N. Y.

TELESCOPICALLY-COLLAPSIBLE BOX.

intense.

Application filed July 5, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l[, ARTHUR L. Srnrnun, citizen of the Dominion of Canada, residing at Vancouver, in the Frovince of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Telescopically Collapsible Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tobacco boxes, and particularly to the small boxes or cans in which the loose smoking tobacco is commonly packed for retailing.

As is well known, the tobacco is usually closely compacted in the boxes so that a given weight of tobacco will occupy a minimum amount of space, with the result that it is necessary to loosen the tobacco in order to get it out in the desired small quantities. This is an easy matter when the tobacco is near the top of the box, but it becomes increasingly difficult as the box is emptied. Particularly is this true of the relatively thin boxes which are in common use, and are made in this convenient shape for carrying in the pocket, either being flat or curved. In order that these boxes may hold the required amount of tobacco, they are necessarily of such length that the fingers cannot reach to the bottom of the boxes, and it is usually necessary, therefore, to employ some imple ment to loosen the tobacco in the lower part of the box.

An object of my invention is to obviate this ditliculty and to provide a box so con structed that the tobacco may be kept up to the to of the box until a substantial part oi? the to acco has been used out.

Another object of my invention is to provide a box which, within certain limits, may be proportioned in size to amount of tobacco contained in it.

Other objects of an invention are simplicity and cheapness 0' construction, neatness of appearance, and convenience of manipulation. Still other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the tollowing description.

In accordance with my invention ll ro vide a box of variable capacity, and this is etl'ected by employing two telescopic sections, the upper section having a movable cover, and the lower section being adapted to be moved up its full length relative to the upper section until its bottom is at the bottom of the upper section. The two sections are of substantially equal length, so that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Doc. 11., iltltal.

Serial No. 707,710.

the bottom may be elevated until the size of the box is reduced substantially one half, the cover having telescopic engagement with the upper section oppositely to that of the lower section, soas not to interfere with the telescoping ol the lower section. The two sections have a sufficiently tight fit to be held many relative position to which they are adjusted.

I shall now describe the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accoinpanying drawings, and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use. Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of the box. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the box with the lid open, and F ig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing how the box may be carried by the user.

In these drawings 2 represents the upper or main portion of the box, which is relativel thin in proportion to its width and dept 1. To this upper portion 2 the lid 3 is hinged at 4 and closes or telescopes over the lip 5 which projects above an outwardly bent head (3. The bottom edge of this upper portion 2 is flanged inward, as at 7, a very small amount but without any reinforcing "wirc, as the object is only to form a slight lip to limit the outward movement oil the bottom section 10 of. the box which is outwardly flanged, as at 11, a similar amount. The strength imparted by these inwardly and outwardly flanged edges i1nparts all the rigidity required to the sides of the box As illustrated, the upper portion 2 and the bottom section 10 are of substantially the same length, being of the well lrnowo elliptical shape and of a thickness and width to conveniently fit into the pocket of the user. The vertical lines in the walls of these two sections are straight throughout their length so that the lower section will, telescope.Fully into the upper section and the capacity ol the box thereby diminish to oue-hal t', and since the hinged lid or cover 3 telescopes over the upper portion Q the some will not interfore with the complete entrance of the bottom section 10 into the upper section.

The bottom 12 of the box is lipped, as shown in Fig. 2, to lit onto the lower edge of 10 and the outer edge 13 01 this bottoin forms a shoulder to limit the upward move loo ment of the telescopically slidable inner portion 10.

The sections, namely, the bottom section 10 and the upper portion 2, engage with a close fit, so that they are held by friction in any relative position to which they are adjusted and as fast as the tobacco is used out of the box the bottom section 10 is moved up, the cover being preferably closed during this adjustment to limit the upward movement. When the tobacco has been half used up the level of the tobacco still reachesthe top of the box, and it will be seen, therefore, that the remainder of the tobacco may be easily removed. Furthermore, until more than half of the tobacco has been used up the box is no larger than is required to holdits contents, thereby making it smaller and more convenient to carry. nasmuch as the lower section is telescoped internally, the tobacco in the box cannot be caught between the bottom of the box and the bottom of the upper portion 2, and thus interfere with the-upward movement of the bottom section.

I am aware that receptacles composed of telescopic parts havehervtofore been made, and I do not claim broadly such a receptacle, but

What I do claim is:

1. A tobacco box comprising two tele scopic sections of substantially equal length,

i as? the lower section. having a bottom and telescoping entirely within the upper section with a sufiiciently tight fit to be held in any adjusted position, the lower section being provided with an outwardly turned part I and the upper section being provided with an inwardly turned part and the two parts cooperating to prevent the separation of the two sections, and a movable cover telescoping over the upper section, whereby the box may be reduced in size as the contents,

are removed.

2. A,tobacco box comprising two tele scopic sections, the lower section having a bottom and telescoping within the upper section with a sufficiently tight fit to be held in any adjusted position, the lower section beingprovided with an outwardly turned part and the upper section being provided with an inwardly turned part, and the two parts cooperating to prevent the separation 'of the two sections, and a movable cover telescoping over the upper section, whereby the box may be reduced in size as the con- 

